“Don’t Like to Say It’s Impossible”: Despite Crawling 181 Points Behind Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc Remains Hopeful to Bring Ferrari Back

When you have the heritage of being the oldest and most successful team on the grid, dilemmas are an unavoidable curse. The Prancing Horse is no new face to the harsh trials of the track; more so in recent seasons due to a cacophony of blunders and shortcomings. The freshest of these never-ending dilemmas is to choose between chasing the bulls or eyeing the 2024 prize. Charles Leclerc seems to carry a ton of hope for the Scuderia when it comes to Hungaroring, but the 181-point difference between him and championship leader Max Verstappen hints otherwise.

In this season, Ferrari has been facing significant challenges, particularly with tire degradation. This issue stems from their decision to continue with the previous year’s rear aerodynamic solution, which has led to poor tire wear management and a progressively lighter car, making it harder to handle as the race progresses. Despite introducing a major upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix, the tire degradation issue has persisted, and the team acknowledges, as per scuderiafans.com, that it cannot be resolved within the 2023 season.

Charles Leclerc has been positive about the team’s performance since introducing the upgrade package at the Spanish GP. But that might have been in vain as the team’s performance didn’t improve as expected, with both the drivers facing difficulties. Ferrari’s main issue of inconsistency between qualifying and race performance remained unresolved. This suggests that Ferrari’s issues are fundamental and not fully understood, posing challenges for the rest of the season.

As per an article by the Italian publication, La Gazzetta dello Sport’s website, Leclerc expanded on the same problems: “Realistically, looking at Red Bull’s performance now, I don’t like to say it’s impossible to catch up with them, but it is very difficult.” 

Read More: “As a Ferrari Fan, It Hurts”: 5 Years After Facing Same Heartbreak, Sebastian Vettel Prays for Charles Leclerc and Co.’s Rapid Recovery

While the optimism is all in good faith, there will exist a dilemma of sacrificing either of the seasons from the current or the 2024 season.

Charles Leclerc’s Optimism: We Have a Clear Vision for Ferrari’s Future

As Ferrari grapples with the challenges of the current season, Leclerc remains optimistic about the future. Despite the team’s struggles and the daunting task of catching up with leading competitors like Red Bull, Leclerc believes in Ferrari’s potential for improvement and success.

“I think we have a very clear vision of where we need to work. We have new pieces that we will work on in the rest of the season and then we will be fully focused on 2024, where we hope to have a car that allows us to win races and the championship” Leclerc expanded further. He also highlights the tangible steps Ferrari is taking toward its future goals, pointing to the ongoing development work that is as much a part of the team’s routine as the races themselves. This giddy optimism makes it crystal clear that the team is not sitting idle, rather, they have ample data and challenges to tackle. 

This clarity of vision is not just about identifying weaknesses, but also about charting a course for improvement. It’s about understanding the complex interplay of technology, strategy, and human performance that defines success. In the face of adversity, Leclerc’s optimism serves as a beacon for Ferrari and offers a compelling vision of what lies ahead for the team.

Watch This Story | Charles Leclerc Picked as the Perfect Replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes Despite Disturbing “Issues” in His Head